Carrot on a stick

The Horse:

“I know that I’m a lucky horse,
For every day I’m blessed.
A crispy carrot I’ll get to eat,
If I pass my daily test.”

“I’m not required to do that much,
The reward seems worth the sweat.
I’ve always earned it by day’s end,
It’s a safe and secure bet.”

“When I awake on each new day,
I feel the hunger pains.
This causes me to look around,
For a carrot to take the reigns.”

“Just before I give up hope,
I spot it hanging low.
Dangling just above my nose,
And tempting me to go.”

“So I arise and get a taste,
Mmm…sweeter than a peach!
But just before I bite again,
It jerks beyond my reach”

“Of course this is expected,
For it happens every day.
I work all day to catch the prize
And it always runs away.”

“I’m not really worried though,
The prize is always caught.
True, at times, it seems too small.
After all, I’ve done a LOT.”

“I’ve hauled, I’ve pulled,
I've sustained a lot of stress.
I’ve been yanked and jerked around,
Hmmm… But I digress…”

“This is what I’ve always done,
I see no need to change.
I’ll follow where the carrot leads,
And fight off the hunger pains.”

The Rider:

“I am a lucky man indeed,
For every day I’m blessed.
I’ve planned ahead and found a way,
To excel beyond the rest.”

“I push myself to reach new goals,
And at first I had to sweat.
But now the plan is paying off,
And my future’s not a bet.”

“When I awake on each new day,
And I feel those hunger pains,
I’m reminded of the goals I’ve made,
And resolve to take the reigns.”

“In order to maintain my wealth,
I learned this long ago;
Ignore the fads and trendy things,
And be not tempted so.”

“Instead I’ve found more value,
In the pit than in the peach,
Potential lies within the seed,
That’s worthy of my reach.”

“To cover the great distances,
Of where I go each day,
I ride astride my trusty horse.
Which makes work seem like play.”

“With just one simple carrot,
I’ve got this horse well taught.
To be contented when we stop,
And eat what he has sought.”

“I’ve never seen a written rule,
That work should cause me stress.
Instead of hard, then, I’ll work smart
And ensure that I progress.”

“Striving for expiring things,
Means temporary gains;
And following where the carrot leads
Brings tomorrow’s hunger pains.”